Yoga Mandala Prepares Move to New Space

After 10 years in its current location, Yoga Mandala is about to move to a new site at 750 Main St. Owner Nicole Grant wasn’t actively looking for a new space, but when the chance fell into her lap just before the yoga studio’s current lease was up, Grant decided to take the leap.

“This is a perfect example of yoga -- or 'go with the flow,'” Grant said. “When the demand for change comes up, we have two choices: to resist or engage; and let's just say, I saw this as both an opportunity and a challenge and knew I had a whole community to support me.”

The move will also coincide with a split into two distinct businesses sharing one common space, as core elements teacher Beth Maher launches her own separate business, simply called Core Elements. Maher has taught a 10:30 a.m. class at Yoga Mandala for some time, but had outgrown the space and was looking for her own studio. When she found the new space on Main St., she knew it was too big for just her business, so she called Grant and proposed sharing the space.

Grant came to look at the space, and soon enough a move was in the works. Yoga Mandala and Core Elements will each have a dedicated studio, but they will share a common reception area and much more. Grant said it makes sense for them to share a space because core strength is important to yoga practice, and because they already share many clients and get along so well together.

Maher started out as a student in Grant’s yoga class in 2002. She later became interested in Pilates and core fitness, and started teaching her own classes five years ago. In the beginning, she taught small group pilates classes in clients’ homes. Then she began moving from studio to studio, until finally landing at Yoga Mandala. Recently, she realized it was time to make another change.

“I have this amazing group of people who have followed me around. It’s time to have my own space,” Maher said.

Having her own studio will allow her to offer 9:00 a.m. classes, which Maher said is ideal for the many moms who drop their kids off at school and want to head right to class afterward. Maher’s new space will have a ballet barre, opening the way for teaching core elements barre classes. The mirrors will help students focus on form.

Yoga Mandala’s new studio will be about one-third larger than the current Mt. Vernon St. studio, which Grant said can sometimes be packed, particularly for beginning yoga classes. She knows she has lost clients because they couldn’t find enough space to spread out their yoga mats.

“I do welcome the extra breathing room, the light spacious feel, and easier access to parking the new space will provide--parking is a huge stressor,” Grant said.

She’ll also be incorporating some new elements into her studio, including a “rope wall,” which will allow clients to be supported by a rope.

“My intention for the rope wall is to be able to add classes and workshops specifically geared towards folks with therapeutic concerns and simply to add a little more diversity and opportunity to what yoga has to offer all of us,” Grant said.

Both Grant and Maher are excited about the move and the new space, even as they are engaged in last-minute construction and preparation. They’ve also been buoyed by their community of clients, who have offered everything from encouragement to moving help.

Yoga Mandala and Core Elements will host a grand reopening party on Wednesday, Feb. 29 from 6:30-8:30 p.m. They’ll start holding classes in the new space the following day, March 1.

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